Adaptor for electrical outlets



y 8, 1962 A. D. TRAHER 3,034,033

ADAPTOR FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLETS Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR. ALBERT D. TRAHER MJ M ATTORNEY Unitd rates arnt the 3,034,083 ADAPTOR FGR ELECTRECAL UTLET Albert D. Traitor, 6727 SW. 19th t., West Hollywood, Fla. Filed June 20, 19st), er. No. 37,435 3 Claims. ill. 339-14) This invention relates to an adaptor device for converting a conventional two-prong electrical wall receptacle into a three-wire or ground connection wherey to utilize the conventional two-prong receptacle in a conventional wall box and to provide a third ground connection for use with an electrical plug device of a three-wire type and with one wire constituting the ground wire.

In most instances, electrical appliances, such as power tools or the like are usually provided with a third wire that constitutes the ground wire for the device but usually, appliances or the like normally plug it into a two-prong receptacle and has resulted in major disasters with respect to shock to the user.

The invention contemplates a conventional wall box for receiving one or more two-pronged receptacles of conventional form and with the receptacles being connected to the box in the usual and well known manner. The novelty of this invention resides in disposing a prongcarrying plate that overlies the connecting ears of the receptacle to be attached to the wall box by the usual attaching screw and with the cover plate of the receptacle being apertured to overlie the prong so that the prong and the two conventional slots formed in the receptacle may constitute a complete electrical circuit and a ground connection.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a modified receptacle and a pronged plug for engagement therewith,

.FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device with the usual cover plate removed,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pronged adaptor embodied in the invention, and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, parts being broken away for purpose of illustration.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been provided the usual metallic wall box 5, having a forward open side for receiving a conventional doublereceptacle 6. The receptacle 6 is provided with the usual prong receiving slots '7 and the receptacle is connected in fixed relation to the box 5 by screws 8, threadedly engaged with inwardly directed tongues E that are struck from the box 5 and that are conventional with respect to the ordinary wall receptacle. The receptacle 6 carries the usual attaching metallic tongues in that project above and below the receptacle 6' that is normally formed of Bakelite materials.

Adapted to be fixedly connected in overlying relation to the tongues 10, are upper and lower bracket plates 11. The bracket plates ill are apertured at 12 to receive the same fastening screw 8 and whereby the plate 11 is simultaneously attached to the assembly by the conventional fastening screws. To prevent rocking motion with respect to the tongues ill, the plate 11 has been flanged at 13 to overlie the upper and lower marginal edges of the tongues 10. Riveted or otherwise connected to the plates 11 are cylindrical prongs 14-, having rounded outer ends 15. The receptacle 6 and the open side of the box 5 is adapted to be covered by a conventional cover plate 3,034,083 Patented May 8, 1962 l6, usually formed of plastics and the plate 16 is provided with the usual opening 17 that receive the receptacle 6. The plate 16 is connected in fixed relation to the box by a conventional screw 18, threaded into an opening 19 formed in the body of the receptacle intermediate its height. The plate 15 above and below the opening 17 is apertured at 21) to receive the prongs 14 whereby the prongs project outwardly beyond the face of the plate to receive a third connection for a conventional plugin device, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 21. In the assembled position of FIGURE 1, there has been provided a well known outlet box, a receptacle 6 and a cover plate 16, each being operative in a well known manner. It becomes necessary at times to employ a three-wire connector and in many instances, it has been necessary to install receptacles of the type having slots for three prongs, one of which constitutes a ground connection. To avoid the cost of installation for a threepronged receptacle, the device of this invention constitutes an adaptor that may be applied to any well known single or double receptacle to furnish a third ground connection.

The plug device 21 is usually formed of hard rubber or other insulating material and receives a three-wire conductor 22 into one side, with two wires being connected to flat prongs 23, while a. third ground wire is connected to a metallic socket sleeve 24. The prongs 23 are adapted to engage the slots 7 of the receptacle, while the socket 224 simultaneously engages the prong 14, effectively providing a three wire connection to a modified two-prong receptacle, establishing a very definite and desirable ground connection for the third wire since, the prong l4 and its plate 11 are normally grounded at assembly when connected to the tongues 9 of the box 5.

At assembly, the cover plate 16 is apertured at 20 and the plate of course as before stated is otherwise of conventional construction. The plates 11 are then disposed in overlying relation to the connector tongues 10 with its flange l3 overlying the tongues and the screw 8 inserted through the tongues 10 and the tongues 9 to securely mount the receptacle 6 into the box 5 against shifting. The plate 16 is then disposed in overlying relation, with the tongues 14 projecting outwardly b yond the face of the plate. The device will now function as a two-prong receptacle or as in the case of a three wire conductor 22, the special plug 21 is connected thereto and functions to engage the receptacle and the prong 14 to constitute the grounding connection. Thus, by the simple expedient of providing the additional connector prong 14, the conventional two-prong receptacle is converted effectively to a three-prong receptacle. Novelty may reside in the plug device 21 and it is contemplated that a separate application for patent may be filed on the plug 21 basically. The device is simple in construction, strong, durable, cheap to manufacture and greatly simplifies the conversion of the well known twoprong receptacle to a three wire connector.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as radially fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adaptor device for use with a two pronged electrical receptacle whereby to form a ground connection for a three wire appliance plug of the type that has a pair of flat prongs and a socket and with one wire of the plug connected to the socket, the combination with a wall box having attaching tongues struck from its opposite ends to constitute the mounting means for the two prong receptacle and with the receptacle also having attaching tongues that overlie the tongues of the box, the several tongues being apertured to receive a fastening screw, the adaptor comprising a fiat metallic plate that overlies the second named tongues and With the plate being apertured to receive the fastening screw whereby to bind the plate against the second named tongues, the plate and the tongues being perpendicular with respect to the box, a cylindrical prong fixed to the plate and that extends forwardly from the plate at a right angle, a cover plate for the receptacle that is apertured to engage over the last named prongs and with the prongs projecting forwardly of the plate, the last named prongs adapted to receive the socket of the plug when the prongs of the plug are engaged with the receptacle and whereby the ground wire of the plug is grounded to the box.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the prong of the adaptor isrounded at its free end and With the plate of the adaptor at its upper end being provided with a right angle flange that is co-extensiye With the tongue of the box and the tongue of the receptacle.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the appliance cord is of the type that embodies three con ductors, one of the conductors constituting a ground connection, the cord being connected to a plug having a flat forward face and a pair of forwardly projecting flat prongs for electrical engagement into the receptacle, the plug also being provided with a cylindrical socket that simultaneously receives the prong of the adaptor when the plug is engaged with the receptacle whereby to constitute 10 the ground connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

